Original Project
Weather and Climate I: Basic Elements
The pattern of the rise and fall of air temperature over a day and over a year at any given place on the surface…
Item WC027004: Air is warmed by energy from the sun that first warms the surface of the earth and then is transferred to the air.
Which of the following is TRUE about how the air at any place around the earth is warmed?
- All around the earth the air is warmed mainly by energy that comes from deep inside the earth.
- All around the earth the air is warmed mainly by energy from the sun before the sunlight reaches the earth’s surface.
- All around the earth the air is warmed mainly by energy from the sun that first warms the surface of the earth and then is transferred to the air.
- The air around the earth is not warmed by the energy that comes from deep inside the earth or by the energy that comes from the sun. Changes to the temperature of air in any one place are only due to the movement of air from one place to another.
- Distribution of Responses
- Students Responding Correctly
| Group | Correct | Total | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 1209 | 3700 | 33% |
| Grades | |||
| 6–8 | 714 | 2182 | 33% |
| 9–12 | 493 | 1510 | 33% |
| Gender | |||
| Male | 540 | 1761 | 31% |
| Female | 647 | 1861 | 35% |
| Primary Language | |||
| English | 1080 | 3191 | 34% |
| Other | 99 | 366 | 27% |